From staff reports Senior Director of Government Affairs at the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, Tanner Beymer talks about the OFF Act, Farm Bill, changes to the Packers and Stockyards Act, and more.
“That OFF Act is something that just keeps getting introduced like a bad penny,” Beymer said. “Luckily for us, it has never been seriously considered for independent floor action in either the House or the Senate. It is usually an amendment to a Farm Bill.”
Beymer said he does no t expect to see a Farm Bill for the remainder of this Congress. In fact, Beymer added he believes it will be 2025 be fore a completed Farm Bill is seen.
“At the time that happens, there is going to be floor action, and this (OFF Act) will be an amendment to the Farm Bill,” Beymer said. “We are going to have to work closely as all of agriculture to make sure we are pushing back against these false narratives about commodity checkoff programs so we can keep these harmful amendments at bay.”
One piece of the OFF Act is the prohibition of any lobbying ties to groups that may be associated with the Beef Checkoff.
“That is very transparently aimed at NCBA, since we do have the policy and federation divisions and that big firewall between them to make sure there is no co-mingling of funds and resources,” Beymer said.
“We are not the only organization in agriculture that is structured like that. It is very narrow and short-sided because that would also apply to subcontractors as well.”